United Airlines Announces New Policies After Multiple Problems

David Dao, a doctor from Kentucky, was dragged off a United Airlines flight earlier this month. Videos taken by other passengers showed blood coming from his mouth, and the news of the incident made headlines around the world.

Then, just this week, a large rabbit died after being flown from Heathrow Airport in London to Chicago.

The rabbit was only 10 months old, in good health, and almost one meter long. Its father is certified by the Guinness World Records as the world’s longest at 1.22 meters.

A farmer from the U.S. state of Iowa purchased the rabbit and hoped to show it off at the upcoming state fair. He thought the young rabbit might grow larger than its father.

A United Airlines plane at Newark Airport in New Jersey.

In late March, United also received some bad publicity when two girls were stopped from getting on a plane. The airline said they were not wearing clothes the airline considered suitable.

Now, the airline has created or updated new policies, which could prevent some of the problems from happening in the future.

United’s CEO, Oscar Munoz, said “our policies got in the way of our values” and that “procedures” prevented employees from “doing what’s right.”

After Dao was injured while being taken off the plane, many airline industry experts said the problem could have been prevented if United had offered passengers more money to leave their seats.

One of the new policies is that United can offer people up to $10,000 to leave their seat if the flight has too many passengers. In the past, the incentive was based on the value of the ticket.

United also said it will not prevent people from flying if they are already seated on the plane. Security or police officers will only be used if the passenger is creating a safety or security problem.

Other parts of the plan include allowing airline workers to solve problems in the moment instead of relying on strict guidelines. The workers will be trained to deal with difficult situations like the one they faced on the flight from Chicago to Kentucky.

In addition, the airline will give passengers whose bags have been permanently lost, $1,500 without asking for details of the contents. The man who bought the large rabbit, however, said he has not been offered money for his loss.

Many people think the moves will be good for the airline. Reuters news agency reports Dao “applauds” the airline for the changes. On Thursday he also accepted a settlement with the airline for his treatment earlier this month. That means he and his lawyer will not pursue a public lawsuit.

Others on social media are now saying they might just buy a ticket on a United flight if they might receive $10,000 for leaving a flight.

And that’s What’s Trending Today.

I’m Anna Mateo.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reports by the Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor.

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Words in This Story

fair – n. a large public event at which there are various kinds of competitions, games, rides, and entertainment

publicity – n. attention that is given to someone or something by newspapers, magazines, television news programs, etc.

procedure – n. a series of actions that are done in a certain way or order : an established or accepted way of doing something

incentive – n. something that encourages a person to do something or to work harder

applause – n. show of approval or appreciation at a play, speech, sporting event, etc., in which people strike their hands together over and over

settlement – n. a formal agreement or decision that ends an argument or dispute

美联航在发生多次问题后宣布出台新政策

This is What's Trending Today.
这里是今日热点节目。

David Dao, a doctor from Kentucky, was dragged off a United Airlines flight earlier this month. Videos taken by other passengers showed blood coming from his mouth, and the news of the incident made headlines around the world.
本月初，来自肯塔基州的医生David Dao被拖离美联航的航班。其他乘客拍摄的视频显示他的嘴巴流血了。这起事件的新闻成登上了世界各地的头条。

Then, just this week, a large rabbit died after being flown from Heathrow Airport in London to Chicago.
然后就在本周，一只大兔子在从伦敦希思罗机场空运到芝加哥后死了。

The rabbit was only 10 months old, in good health, and almost one meter long. Its father is certified by the Guinness World Records as the world's longest at 1.22 meters.
这只兔子只有10个月大，健康状况良好，身长差不多有一米。这只兔子的父亲身长1.22米，经吉尼斯世界记录认证为世界上最长的兔子。

A farmer from the U.S. state of Iowa purchased the rabbit and hoped to show it off at the upcoming state fair. He thought the young rabbit might grow larger than its father.
美国爱荷华州的一位农民购买了这只兔子，并且希望在即将到来的州博览会上展览。他认为这只小兔子可能会长得比它的父亲还要大。

In late March, United also received some bad publicity when two girls were stopped from getting on a plane. The airline said they were not wearing clothes the airline considered suitable.
三月下旬，两名女性被阻止登机，这也让美联航受到了一些负面宣传。该航空公司表示，这两名女性没有穿着该航空公司认为合适的服装。

Now, the airline has created or updated new policies, which could prevent some of the problems from happening in the future.
现在该航空公司已经制定或更新了新的政策，以防止未来发生这样一些问题。

United's CEO, Oscar Munoz, said "our policies got in the way of our values" and that "procedures" prevented employees from "doing what's right."
美联航CEO奥斯卡·穆诺兹（Oscar Munoz）表示：“我们的政策妨碍了我们的价值观”，这些“程序”妨碍了员工们“做正确的事情”。

After Dao was injured while being taken off the plane, many airline industry experts said the problem could have been prevented if United had offered passengers more money to leave their seats.
Dao在被带离飞机时受了伤。许多航空业界专家表示，如果美联航向乘客提供更多放弃座位的奖励，这一问题本来可以避免。

One of the new policies is that United can offer people up to $10,000 to leave their seat if the flight has too many passengers. In the past, the incentive was based on the value of the ticket.
新政策之一是，如果航班乘客超员，美联航可以向放弃座位的乘客提供最高1万美元奖励。过去这一奖励是根据机票票价。

United also said it will not prevent people from flying if they are already seated on the plane. Security or police officers will only be used if the passenger is creating a safety or security problem.
美联航还表示，如果乘客已经在飞机上就座，该公司就不会阻止该乘客乘机。只有乘客造成安全或安保问题时才会使用安保或警务人员。

Other parts of the plan include allowing airline workers to solve problems in the moment instead of relying on strict guidelines. The workers will be trained to deal with difficult situations like the one they faced on the flight from Chicago to Kentucky.
该方案的其它内容还包括允许航空公司员工即刻解决问题，而不是依赖严格的指导原则。这些工作人员将接受培训，处理类似他们在从芝加哥飞往肯塔基州的航班上遇到的这种困难局面。

In addition, the airline will give passengers whose bags have been permanently lost, $1,500 without asking for details of the contents. The man who bought the large rabbit, however, said he has not been offered money for his loss.
此外，该航空公司将给予行李永久丢失的乘客1500美元赔偿，而不会询问行李内的物品细节。然而这只购买了大兔子的男子说他的损失没有得到赔偿。

Many people think the moves will be good for the airline. Reuters news agency reports Dao "applauds" the airline for the changes. On Thursday he also accepted a settlement with the airline for his treatment earlier this month. That means he and his lawyer will not pursue a public lawsuit.
很多人认为此举对航空公司来说是有好处的。路透社报道称，Dao“赞扬”该航空公司的变化。周四他还就自己的遭遇与美联航达成了和解，这意味着他和他的律师将不再追求公诉。

Others on social media are now saying they might just buy a ticket on a United flight if they might receive $10,000 for leaving a flight.
社交媒体上的其他人现在表示，他们或许只会购买可能收到1万美元放弃座位奖励的航班的机票。